African jacanas (Actophilornis africanus) are wading birds from sub-Saharan Africa. They are identifiable by long toes and long claws that allow them to walk on floating vegetation in shallow lakes. The part of the scientific name of this species 'actophilornis' comes from Ancient Greek and can rougly be translated as "the birds that loves river banks".
African jacanas have chestnut upperparts with black wingtips, rear neck, and eyestripe. The underparts are also chestnut in the adults, only in juveniles they are white with a chestnut belly patch. The blue bill extends up as a coot-like head shield, and the legs and long toes are grey.
African jacanas breed throughout sub-Saharan Africa. They don't migrate but may perform seasonal movements between suitable habitats. African jacanas inhabit shallow freshwater wetlands with floating vegetation where they nest and tall vegetation for cover. They can be found in flooded grasslands, marshes, small lakes, ponds, and sheltered shores.
When not breeding African jacanas are social and often gather in flocks. They forage during the day singly, in pairs, or in family groups. African jacanas search for prey by walking slowly on the floating vegetation picking insects from the floating vegetation or the surface of the water. They can also catch flying insects. African jacanas are excellent swimmers and can also dive. To escape danger they can swim underwater, and the chicks can stay underwater for a moment with only the bill tip above the surface. African jacanas are very noisy birds. Their alarm calls are loud and noisy. In flight they make a rattling screech and other calls include sharp 'krrrek' or a 'kyowrrr'.
African jacanas are carnivores (insectivores, vermivores, molluscivores). They eat various insects, worms, spiders, crustaceans, mollusks, and snails.
African jacanas are polyandrous, meaning that one female mates with multiple males and the male alone cares for the chicks. Such a system of females forming harems of males is in direct contrast to the more usual system of leks seen in animals such as stags and grouse, where the males compete and display in order to gain harems of females. The parent that forms part of the harem is almost always the one that ends up caring for the offspring; in this case, each male jacana incubates and rears a nest of chicks. The males of this species have even evolved some remarkable adaptations for parental care; they can pick up and carry chicks underneath their wings. African jacanas breed throughout the year. The male is responsible for building the nest. The female lays 4 eggs and the male incubates the clutch for about 20-26 days. The chicks are precocial and can move around and feed themselves soon after hatching. The male accompanies the young, tends them, and provides protection. The chicks usually remain with the male for about 40-70 days.
African jacanas are not considered threatened at present but they suffer from flooding, drainage of wetlands, and overgrazing.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the African jacana is 1,000,000 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are stable.
